Minority Health Entities Impact State Health Disparities 

Editorial by Nathan Stinson, Jr., PhD, MD, MPH


Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services


Closing the Gap, Supporting State Offices of Minority Health • September/October 2000


The United States is comprised of 59 states, districts, and In FY 2000 OMH awarded 12 new states—many of which 

territories—each uniquely defined by its topography, do not have established state minority health entities—with apnatural resources, and by the diversity of its people. The proximately $285,000. For these states, the initiative provides 

varying cultures, languages, races and ethnicities of individuals an opportunity to reach minority populations with special projects 

living in states across the nation pose equally unique challenges they might not otherwise have been able to do. 

for health officials as they OMH recently comwork to eliminate their own pleted an assessment of the 

state’s health disparities. minority health infrastrucState minority health ture in eight states and Puerto 

entities continue to serve as Rico. One of the important 

pivotal points for federal, study questions of this assessstate, tribal, and local efforts ment was whether the existto improve the health sta­ ence of state minority health 

tus of minority popula­ entities made a difference in 

tions. They have the abil­ how/if states were addressing 

ity to tackle head-on the racial and ethnic health discross-cutting issues in parities. The study found 

which the Office of Minor- that despite the many chality Health (OMH) is in­ lenges facing the state minorvolved. Yet many states still ity health entities, they are an 

lack sufficient resources to organized and visible preshelp them address minority health issues. 

That is why OMH developed the State Partnership Initiative in 1998. We wanted to help individual state minority health 

entities develop or expand their existing infrastructure to address 

their specific public health needs, while at the same time helping 

us increase our involvement with the states. The one-year contracts also allowed some states to undertake special projects to 

address emerging health-related issues impacting minority communities. 

Through the initiative, 25 state offices shared approximately 

$733,000 to develop programs that impact state-wide racial and 

ethnic health disparities. Some state offices, such as Ohio and 

North Carolina, used the funding toward innovative programs 

that improve access to care and address data issues (see articles 

Ohio Turns to Hispanic Community to Develop Data Publication 

and North Carolina OMH Improves Availability of Health Data). 

Others directed the funds toward infrastructure development, 

like Tennessee’s establishment of a Latino Network (see article 

Tennessee Creates Latino Network). 

ence at the state policymaking level that provides numerous opportunities to shape and create initiatives that could affect the 

health status of minority populations. 

They also serve an important information dissemination 

function, providing information on minority health issues to 

policymakers, health professionals, community-based organizations, and the general public. State minority health entities also 

serve as important and visible points of contact in their states. 

We know that improving the health of racial and ethnic 

minorities helps ensure the health of all Americans. We also know 

that state minority health entities can play an increasing role in 

the efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health. 

Therefore, we must continue to urge our state health policymakers 

to put minority health on their agendas, especially if they are 

serious about closing the gaps in health in their states and the 

nation. Minority health is everyone’s health. 

For more information on the OMH State Health Partnership 

Initiative, call Gerrie Maccannon at (301) 443-5084.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services